GANTZ!

She's not Kei or Masaru, but do you really care?

The last thing Kei and Masaru remember was being struck dead by a subway train while saving the life of a drunken bum.
What a waste!
And yet somehow they're still . . . alive?
Or semi-alive?
Maybe it's reanimated . . . by some kind of alien orb with a nasty message . . . "Your lives are over. What you do with your new lives is up to me!"
And what this orb called "Gantz" intends to do with their lives is make them play games of death, hunting all kinds of odd aliens, along with a bunch of other ordinary citizens who've recently met a tragic semi-end.
The missions they embark upon are often dangerous. Many die-and die again.
This dark and action-packed manga / anime / live-action movie deals with the moral conflicts of violence, teenage sexual confusion and angst, and our fascination with death.
Hang on to your gear and keep playing the game, whatever you do; Gantz is unrelenting.

This is the cast, in Japanese. If anyone can translate, please e-mail me.

NEW PEOPLE and NCM Fathom are bringing the world premiere of GANTZ to movie theaters nationwide for a one night live event on Thursday, January 20th at 8:00 pm ET/ 7:00 pm CT/ 6:00 pm MT/ 8:30 pm PT (tape delayed).
This live-action feature, based upon the popular Japanese manga / anime series, is the ultimate survival game. It will be English over-dubbed exclusively for this big screen event.
Following the feature, the two stars, Kazunari Ninomiya and Kenichi Matsuyama will participate in an exclusive live interview that can only be seen at this event.
Click HERE for a list of participating theaters.

Martin Luther King, Jr--the Comic Book

On the day we honor the memory of Martin Luther King, Jr, the gang at Atomic Kommie Comics™ thought it only appropriate to present this item, the first comic book dramatizing his historic efforts.
From the website's intro to the comic...
Most sane thinkers consider MLK to be an important and historic larger-than-life icon, but how did that happen?
Especially given the marginalized press coverage of blacks in the 50s, how was his message galvanized among southern minorities and then spread as a single statement beyond the black community -- and how was it focused so specifically to such seemingly ignorable or boring local incidents as one black woman's refusal to give up a bus seat and a following small-town bus boycott, as well as the concept of Passive Resistance?
Without any need for hyperbole, this comic book is one of the reasons.


Produced by the Fellowship of the Reconciliation and sent very surreptitiously throughout the South (it was dangerous for many to own a copy), then translated, re-drawn, and distributed once again throughout the entire SOUTHERN CONTINENT through Mexico, into Central and then South America, this comic tells the story that established the myth of Martin Luther King and Rosa Parks at the time that it mattered, mere months after news events occurred.
Intended for adults, but shown in comic book format for the largest possible distribution and audience and instruction.

It was also produced as a comic because more adult seeming publications and newspapers were often destroyed by white businessmen and other violent types bent on continuing segregation's grip on the South.
But that does not mean people found distributing copies of this comic were not given their fair share of beatings and harassment, nor does it mean thousands of copies were not often destroyed.
Why? This comic is and was dangerously honest.
Featuring the Klan (lynching, bombs, burning crosses), Jim Crow laws, and the entire concept of Nonviolent Protest.
This pamphlet offered advice and instructions on how to use passive resistance and massive non-violent resistance against segregation, just as these ideas were fresh --and it also established a clear connection of MLK to Gandhi, a public connection that continues on to today.


A copy of this comic is held in the Smithsonian and many Civil Rights leaders recognize this as one of the most important AND PERSUASIVE items of the 50s in establishing or explaining their cause to the world, as well as giving many black youths the courage and direction to hold their own political protests.
Many notable sit-ins and demonstrations link to this comic book getting into the right hands - and it did get around, literally devoured by black college students at the time.

We're DELIGHTED to offer you not just the American version of this comic but also the SPANISH edition, of which maybe two or three copies are known to exist.
After extensive effort and search, we were able to find a copy in Uruguay.
Not joking. Completely redrawn and translated, click back and forth to compare art, some of the differences between the two are great.


Ever wonder how much influence and power a small press or self-produced item can have?
This is one of the best examples you'll ever see.

Fantastic Femmes--Aria Prasad

Back in September, we brought you an entry about a kool (and frightening) new on-line game called The Curfew.
Among the reasons for checking it out was: "the captivating Aria Prasad (a future Fantastic Femme) as Aisha: the Immigrant! Yeah, I'm a sucker for a pretty face."
Well, after several months of searching for info on the talented and beautiful actress, I came up with; some interesting theatre work, and her sole film-tv credit: an ep of MI-5 (aka Spooks) VideoClip HERE! That's it!
We want to see MORE of her!

Genre appearances include...

MI-5 aka Spooks "Episode 8.7" (Yasmin)

The Curfew (The Immigrant)

Check out...

Aria's Acting Resume Page

One of her theatre appearances in Wasted

The History of The Green Hornet!

Since The Green Hornet first appeared on radio in 1936, he's made the transition to motion pictures, comics and television.
Very little has been written about the masked marvel and what has been recorded in magazine articles and encyclopedias prior to this publication never explored the character as deeply... or accurately.

A complete history of the radio series from the creation to conception sketches, reprints from production files to the untold adventures, biographic details of the cast and the characters they played (including Mike Axford, Kato, Gunnigan, Lenore Case, Linda Travis, Ed Lowry, Clicker Binney, Commissioner Higgins, etc.) and background information is all provided under one cover.
Also included are details of the two cliffhanger serials produced by Universal in the early forties, the unaired 1952 television pilot, the long-running popularity of the comic books and the William Dozier television series (1966-67) starring Van Williams and Bruce Lee including a complete episode guide documenting every episode including unproduced scripts and plot ideas.
I highly recommend it.

Happy (Belated) Anniversary, Batman!

With all the hubbub about the new Green Hornet film, it totally slipped my mind that January 12th marked the 45th anniversary of the debut of the pop-art oriented Batman tv series, without which, there wouldn't have been a Green Hornet series to "inspire" Seth Rogan's flick!
Here's a special treat for the pop art graphics aficionados among you...

The iconic LIFE magazine cover featuring Adam West...

...and the pic it was flopped and cropped from!

The Night They Kept Britt Reid from Seeing THE GREEN HORNET

Last night, I went to see The Green Hornet.
Last night, I didn't see The Green Hornet!
I was coming directly from a meeting with a client, so I had my laptop with me.
When time came to go in, the audience was told that we would have to check our cellphones, BlackBerrys, laptops, etc.
Now, my cellphone doesn't even have a camera. (I'm waiting for Verizon's iPhone.)
My laptop does have a camera, but it's on the inside lid, above the screen. The only way I could photograph the movie is if I turned the laptop around and pointed the keyboard and screen at the movie screen!
So, taking them from me was roughly the same as frisking a toddler at an airport security gate. It's stupid and useless, but you do it to maintain the appearance of political correctness.
(In addition, the film is already on several filesharing sites!)
Nonetheless, I was still prepared to surrender the items for the duration of the film.
While checking the items, I asked the guard about liability, specifically what happened if the items were lost or stolen while in his custody.
His response was a casual "Don't worry about it."
I pressed the matter, as both the phone and laptop contained proprietary material.
"Look, it's a free screening. Do you want to go in or not?"
To avoid holding up the line, I asked to speak to his supervisor, who also could offer no warranty on loss or damage.
Quite frankly, I had seen enough situations where, without such assurances, things had happened, and the responsible party wasn't held liable.
To safeguard my material, I had no choice but to not enter the screening.

NOTE: both the guard and his boss were cordial. VERY professional. NO raised voices, NO angry words exchanged.
And, in the future, I'll avoid bringing my laptop to screenings.
I'll hit a matinee this weekend, and let you know what I think on Monday.

YouTube Wednesday--THE GREEN HORNET "The Green Hornet" (1974)

This week, the NEW Green Hornet movie starring Seth Rogan and Jay Chou opens!
To celebrate (and contrast), we're offering a special treat...the FIRST Green Hornet feature film, complete and uncut!
Actually, it's a compilation of four tv series episodes, with additional fight footage tossed in, released shortly after the death of Bruce Lee, as you can tell by the promo posters!

The adapted episodes are "Hunters and the Hunted", "Preying Mantis", and the two-part "Invasion from Outer Space", all of which we've covered in previous YouTube Wednesday installments.
There was also a second compilation film, called Fury of the Dragon, but we were unable to find it online.
Enjoy this 90-minute slice of history, and if you go see the new flick, let us know what you think!

Fantastic Femmes--Wende Wagner

Navy brat Wendy Wagner was an expert scuba diver, swimmer, and surfer. She also looked incredible in a bikini.
So, naturally, she became both a professional model and underwater stunt-double for two tv series.
When producers realized she could also act, Wende began doing guest appearances on tv series and secondary characters in features, usually scantily-clad.
In 1966, Batman tv series producer William Dozier offered her a co-starring role in his new series Green Hornet as the hero's secretary/confidante. Though the show only ran one season, Wende made an indelible impression on fanboys then and since.
After the show's cancellation, she returned to doing guest appearances, until retiring from acting in the late 1970s.
Wende passed away in 1997 from cancer.

Genre appearances include...

Bait (Victim)

Rookies "Prayers Unanswered, Prayers Unheard"

Guns of the Magnificent Seven (Tina)

Rosemary's Baby (Rosemary's Girl Friend)

It Takes a Thief "Get Me to the Revolution on Time"

Mannix "Skid Marks on a Dry Run"

Green Hornet[1966] (Lenore "Casey" Case)

A Covenant with Death (Rafaela Montemayo)

Destination Inner Space (Sandra Welles)

Perry Mason "Case of the Feather Cloak"

Flipper [1965] "Flipper's Monster"

Sea Hunt (stunts)

Aquanauts (stunts)

Check out...

The Private Life and Times of Wende Wagner

Other actresses to play Lenore "Casey" Case include...
Cameron Diaz in The Green Hornet [2011]
Anne Nagel in The Green Hornet [1940] and The Green Hornet Strikes Again [1940]
Lenore Allman in The Green Hornet [1936-1952]

A special treat: Wende's appearance on What's My Line while she was doing underwater stuntwork for Sea Hunt and Aquanauts...

Preview Cover; Green Hornet: Year One #12

The cover art  to Green Hornet: Year One #12 by Francesco Francavilla.
Part of the Green Hornet: Year One line of comics by Dynamite Comics.
Easily the best GH titles from Dynamite out there.
These are based on the 1940s movie serial / radio / comic book version of the character. BUY THEM!

Design of the Week--Green Hornet & Kato vs the Rockets of Death!

Each week, we post a limited-edition design, to be sold for exactly 7 days, then replaced with another!
Well, The Green Hornet collectible series had proven to be a major success, so why fight it?

With the upcoming big budget movie due out this week, we're proud to present our own contribution to the growing buzz (obvious joke) over the revival of the classic character...a kool sci-fi cover from 1945's Green Hornet Comics #24 featuring The Green Hornet and Kato battling Axis poison-gas rockets about to kill everyone in the city!

Available on t-shirts, messenger bags, mugs, and other kool kollectibles, this particular cover isn't on our main product line of Classic Green Hornet collectibles.
But it's the perfect Secret Chic sweatshirt, t-shirt or bag to take to a screening of the new flick, so pick it up now, before it goes back into the nest!

Fantastic Femmes--Dichen Lachman

This page has been updated with new info

HERE

Fantastic Femmes--The Women of Spider-Man: Turn Off the Dark

Natalie Mendoza (Arachne)
Natalie has, regrettably, left the production.
She created the interpretation of Arachne, a new, non-comics-based character.

 America Olivio (Arachne) [coming soon]
America filled-in as Arachne, but has been replaced by...

T.V. Carpio (Arachne / Miss Arrow) [Coming Soon]

Alice Lee (Miss Arrow) [Coming Soon]
Alice replaced T.V. Carpio, who is now Arachne.

Green Hornet TV Series Marathon on SyFy!

Set your DVR!

The ENTIRE 1960s 

Green Hornet

TV series in ONE DAY!

All 26 episodes!

January 11th

10am-11pm

on SyFy

Yes, they'll probably be edited for time.

But, since the show's not available on licensed DVD, this'll probably be the only time you'll be able to get the eps in one shot!

And, hopefully, they'll run some behind-the-scenes and promo material during the commercial breaks.

YouTube Wednesday: THE GREEN HORNET "Invasion from Outer Space 1 & 2"

Continuing our weekly feature "YouTube Wednesday"...

With the new movie opening next week (and a special movie/tv entry planned for next Wednesday), we're winding up our look at The Green Hornet tv series with the two-part finale.
If you're going out, go out with a bang. And there's no bang bigger than an atomic explosion!
Mad scientist Dr Mabuse has created a citywide panic by faking a flying saucer crash and appearance by "stranded aliens".
Invading Britt Reid's townhouse (and zapping Kato), the spacesuited fiend demands the publisher help him and his fellow "aliens" get out of town without police interference so their mothership can send a rescue craft to pick them up in a remote area...the same "remote area" a secret military convoy transporting atomic weapons is due to pass through!
Though skeptical, Reid complies and Mabuse leaves, taking Lenore Case as a hostage.
Mabuse intercepts the convoy and hijacks an atomic bomb!
Rescue Casey from a leering lunatic and save the city from atomic Armageddon! It's a far cry from the gangsters and thieves the Hornet and Kato usually handle!

With a new producer and a totally-different approach, this ep seems like a last-gasp attempt to boost the ratings by going with a much more sci-fi/ fantasy-oriented storyline.
Thankfully, they didn't go to the campy level of Batman. It's still played straight.

Every last cent in the series budget was thrown in for location shooting and optical fx, including lots of highway stunt driving along with the show's best stunt-piece; The Green Hornet leaping from the back of Black Beauty to Mabuse's truck while both are barreling down a curving highway at 60+ mph.
Side notes:
The villain's last name, Mabuse, is taken from a famous German pulp supervillain. The GH character is not related to the German character, except in his revenge-crazed desire to blow things up. Larry D Mann plays him with all the scenery-chewing panache of a James Bond foe.

Linda Gaye Scott who played the villain's "shocking" sidekick Vama, appeared on numerous '60s genre shows including Batman, Lost in Space, and Man from U.N.C.L.E., usually in a skintight ensemble!
These are the only episodes without an appearance by reporter and (Hornet's nemesis) Mike Axford, but another red-headed reporter named "Bill" does appear!
And, it's the only episode where Kato is actually knocked unconscious (albeit by electric shock)!


NOTE: the clip provider, HornetNest1000, left out the end credits of ep 1 and opening credits of ep 2, to "flow" the two-parter better. The original source, Encore Action, had left out the "next week" teaser and "last week" recap when they aired the eps, so HornetNest100's choice makes sense.
Here's the finale of The Green Hornet (and hint of how the show might have proceeded if they had done a second season)...

Bugs & Other Creepy Crawlies 2011 12-Month Calendar

With everything going on, we didn't have a chance to present our most recent BRAND NEW 12-month Calendar before now! Let's correct that oversight. (Luckily, a number of you had already discovered it at our 12-Month Calendar section)
A kool kombination of sci-fi, fantasy, and horror, Bugs & Other Creepy Crawlies of Comics and Pulps™ features numerous six, eight, and multi-legged arthopods in a dozen nightmarish scenarios from the wildest 1930s, 40s, and 50s comic book and pulp magazine covers we could find, all digitally-restored and remastered directly from the original periodicals!
A perfect wall decoration for an entomologist or a pest control technician (We called them "exterminators" in the good 'ol days.)

Look for this cover...

at our 2011 12-Month Calendar section!

Order now, before it comes creeping after YOU!

Anne Francis (9/16/1930 – 1/2/2011)

The American Mrs Peel!

Ironically, I had just watched Forbidden Planet on TCM last night (for the umpteeth time), and was discussing who, of the main cast, was still alive! (Leslie Nielsen [Commander J.J. Adams] had passed away in November.)
Plus, one of my projects for this year was expanding the Fantastic Femmes entries to include more past performers including Anne, Raquel Welch, Diana Rigg, etc.
Then this morning, I read about Anne's passing due to complications from cancer...

Her roles as Altaira "Alta" Morbius and Honey West alone would assure her a place as a Fantastic Femme.

The obligatory Forbidden Planet pic

She was also one of the few non-regulars to play the same character in several episodes of Man from U.N.C.L.E.!

Plus, she guest-starred on numerous genre shows from Burke's Law (where Honey West debuted) to Wonder Woman!

Besides being ravishingly-beautiful she had a great acting range, doing everything from comedies to westerns to film noir! We've included several of the harder-to-find ones below...

Her favorite performance was in the psychological thriller Girl of the Night, one of the few films she got top billing. (It's unavailable on Amazon, but you can get it directly from Warner Archives!)

Preview Cover; Kato: Origins #11

The cover art to Kato: Origins #11 by Francesco Francavilla.
Part of the Green Hornet: Year One line of comics by Dynamite Comics.
Easily the best GH titles from Dynamite out there.
These are based on the 1940s movie serial / radio / comic book version of the character. BUY THEM!

Happy New Year's Day!

 Happy New Year's

from Superman & Atomic Kommie Comics™!